Apparatus for distributing pulverized material



July 23, 1957 R. P. TUTT APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING PULVERIZED MATERIAL Filed June 23, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I l I I! [00 llllh. mil HM ROBERT I? rurr INVENI'OR R. P. TUTT July 23, 1957 APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING PULVERIZED MATERIAL Filed June 23, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ROBE R T TUT T ATTORNEY R. P. TUTT July"23, 1957 APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING PULVERIZED MATERIAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 23, 1955 INVENTOR ROBERT TUTT BY Z M ATTORNEY United States Patent" APPARATUS FGR DISTRIBUTZNG PULVERIZED" MATERIAL Robert P. Tutt, Gowanda, N. Y.

Application June 23, 1955, Serial No. 517,526

17 Claims. (Cl. 43148) This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for dispensing'pulverized or finely divided material and more particularly to apparatus for controllably distributingpu'lve'rized or powdered material by means of a fluid blast employed as a carrying medium for the pulverized material.

It is old in the art of dispensing pulverized materials, such as powdered insecticide in the process of dusting crops, for example, to utilize a fluid blast, such as air, as a carrying medium for delivering or conveying the pulverized material to the desired areas of application. However, the prior arrangements do not comprise relatively simple and compact apparatus whichmay be manufactured at relatively low cost, capable of properly mixing the powdered material throughout the fluid blast for uniform distribution over a relatively large area about the apparatus.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus for dispensing powdered material, such as dust insecticides.

Another object is to provide a novel apparatus capable of distributing powdered material, such as dust insecticides, uniformly over a large area about the apparatus.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for dispensing powdered material, of the type employing a fluid blast as a carrying medium for the powdered material, including a novel arrangement for introducing the powdered material into the fluid blast.

Still another object is to provide a novel apparatus for dispensing powdered material including a pump operable for positively introducing the powdered material into the fluid blast.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel device for pumping finely divided material.

A still further object is to provide an apparatusfor controllably dispensing finely divided material, such as dust insecticides, over a relatively large area, of compact, rugged construction capable of relatively low cost manufacture. V

Other objects and features of the present invention will appear more fully below from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose one embodiment of the invention. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are designed for purposes of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference for the latter purpose being had to the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote the similar elements throughout the several views:

Fig. l is a View in side elevation, partially in section, of a powdered material dispensing apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section taken along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in section taken along the line 3'3 of Fig. 2, and

A powdered material dispensingapparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention includes means for'producing a fluid blast and a bin, such as a hopper adapted to contain powdered material, positioned above the fluid blast. Controllable means are provided for positively introducing the powdered material from the hopper into the blast, and together with other means insures a uniform distribution of the powdered material throughout the blast. for positively introducing'the powdered material into the fluid blast comprises a novel device for pumping pow dered material designed in such amanner'a's tobe driveri' by the means for producingthe fluid blast to provide a compact apparatus in which the quantity of the introduced powdered material varies in accordance with the magnitude of the blast.

With reference more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, an apparatus for distributing powdered niaterial constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention is disclosed therein including a blower 10 and a bin 11 of the hopper type located above the blower and adapted to contain a supply of powdered material'for distribution by the apparatus. 10 is of the turbine type including a hollow cylindrical casing 12 and a hollow cylindrical drum 13 positioned concentrically within the cylindrical casing and supported therein by means of radial arms 14 extending inwardly fromthe cylindrical easing into contact with the external surface of the drum 13. The drum 13 is of a diameter substantially less than the internal diameter of the cylindrical casing to provide an annular passageway 15 between the drum and the casing. The dnrm 13 includes vertically disposed circular end walls 16 and 17 spaced inwardly of corresponding ends of the cylindrical casing. The end walls are each provided with a centrally located opening formed by cylindrical sleeves 19 each having one end joined in a respective end wall and the other end terminated in a transversely disposed annular flange 20. Anti-friction bearings 22 are positioned within the cylindrical sleeves and are retained therein in contact withthe annular flanges 20 by means of circular retaining members 23 secured by any suitable means, to respective end walls. The bearings 22 rotatably support an elongated shaft 24 extending longitudinally of the drum 13 with its ends 25 and 26 projecting outwardly beyond the end walls 16 and 17, respectively, through central openings provided in the retaining members. An impeller hub 27 is keyed or otherwise secured to the end 26 of the shaft 24 for rotation therewith, and the impeller hub is axially secured onto the shaft by means of a retaining nut 28. The diameter of the impeller hub 27 substantially corresponding to the external diameter of the drum 13, and a plurality of impeller blades 29 are secured to' the periphery of the hub for rotation therewith. The blades 29 extend radially outwardly, with respect to the outer periphery of the drum, into the annular passageway 15, and are designed to create a blast of fluid,

such as air, upon rotation of the shaft; the fluid blast flowing through the annular passageway from the right to the left as viewed in Fig. 1. Thus, the portion of the blower 10 downstream of the impeller blades 29' coniprises a discharge housing terminating in a discharge end' or opening. A cup shape shield 30 may be secured to the impeller hub on its inlet side to enclose the impeller hub and to direct the fluid entering the inlet end of the cylindrical easing into the annular passageway traversed by the impeller blades. Also, the inlet end of the cylindrical casing adjacent the impeller blades may be provided with an outwardly flared annular member 3-1 to' The controllable means The blower V 3 further direct the incoming air toward the impeller blades. The impeller hub is rotatably driven by means of a shaft 32 secured to the end 26 of the shaft 24 and extending axially of the shaft 24 through the shield 39. if desired, the' shaft 32 may be formed as an integral part of the shaft 24. The shaft 32 may be connected to any suitable driving means, not shown, such as an electric motor or.

an internal combustion engine for rotatably driving the impeller blades at the necessary speed to provide the desired fluid flow or fluid blast through the annular passageway 15.

The flow of fluid through the annular passageway downstream of the impeller blades 29 is controlled by an annular row of straightening blades 35 which .may also function topsupport the drum 13 within the cylindrical casing. Also, the pressure of the fluid blast at the discharge end or" the cylindrical casing is controlled by a difiusor 36. The diffuser 36 comprises a hollow cylindricalmember of frusto conical shape positioned in concentric relation with respect to the drum 13. The large diameter end 37 of the diflusor 36 is joined to the external surface of the drum 13 in the region of the end wall 16, while the small diameter end 38 is located downstream of the end wall 16 and is closed by a plate member 39. The discharge end of the hollow cylindrical shell 12 is provided with an annular flange $0 adapted to be joined to a complementary flange 41 at the end of a distributing or manifolding conduit 4-2 of a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the cylindrical casing. The diffusor 36 provides an annular space 43, extending throughout the length of the dittusor, of gradually increasing cross-sectional area from the annular passageway 15 of uniform cross-sectional area to the distributing conduit42 of relatively greater cross-sectional area. As the fluid blast flows from the annular passageway 15, across the diffuser 36 and into the distributing conduit 42, the velocity of the fluid blast is converted into pressure, and the pressure of the fluid blast in the annular space 43 will be low compared to the pressure of the fluid in the distributing conduit 42. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the diflusor 36 extends in a direction of the fluid flow past the annular flange at the discharge end of the cylindrical casing 12 and projects into the distributing conduit 42. It is to be expressly understood that the cylindricalcasing 12 may include a portion of the distributing conduit 42 and terminate in a plane downstream of the small diameter end 38 of the diffusor 36.

The hopper type bin 11 comprises an inverted hollow member 56 of frusto-conical shape positioned above the cylindrical casing 12. end 51 of the hollow member terminates in a cylindrical marginal edge 52 parallel to the central vertical axis of the member, while its lower and small diameter end 53 is closed by a control valve 54 including a transverse cylindrical housing 55 joined in any suitable mannor to an annular flange 56 formed at the small diameter and of the hopper. The control valve also includes a secured to the cylindrical housing 55, a tapered portion 59 defining a discharge chamber 66, and a uniform diameter hollow cylindrical portion 61 terminated in contiguous relation with the external surface of the cylindrical casing 12. The hopper 11 is not supported solely by the cylindrical portion as external supporting and bracing members, not shown, are preferably employed. A distributing conduit 62 is positioned within the hollow cylindrical portion 61 and extends downwardly from the 110115- ing 57 through a suitable opening in the wall of the cylindrical casing 12 to within the annular space 43 between the cylindrical casing and the diflusor 36 and merges with a pair of distributing sections 63 and 64. The distributing sections 63 and 64 lie in a common transverse plane and are inclined away from each other outwardly and downwardlyfrom thedistributing conduit 62 with The upper and larger diameter 4 their open ends 65 and 66, respectively, located within the annular space 43 on opposite sides of the diffusor 36. For a purpose that will appear more fully below, the open ends 65 and 66 lie in planes inclined at an acute angle with respect to their longitudinal axes and are located on the downstream side of respective distributing sections.

The control valve 54 is provided to control the flow of powdered material from the hopper 11 into the discharge chamber 60. As shown more particularly in Figs. 3 and 4, the housing 55 includes a plurality of spaced openings 7%), the effective sizes of which are determined by the position of a movable valve member 71 mounted between the housings 55 and 57 for relative rotational movement. As shown, the valve member 71inc1udes a circular valve body '72 rotatably mounted in a circular recess 73 formed in the casing 55 by a downwardly extending annular flange 74. The valve member 71 is provided with an operating handle 75 projecting outwardly from the valve member beyond the casing 55 through a slotted portion 760i the flange 74. The length of the slot 76 and the width of the operating handle 75 are proportioned to allow limited relative rotation between the valve member 71 and the housing 55. For the control valve shown, the relative rotation is limited to 45 degrees. The valve body 72 is provided with a plurality of openings 77, equal in size and number to the openings in the housing 55, the openings 70 and being equally disposed with respect to each other and with respect to the axis of rotation of the valve member 71. The operating handle is secured to the valve body 72, relattive to the angular disposition of the openings 77, and the end walls 78 and 7% of the slot 76 are relatively positioned with respect to the openings 79, so that upon maximum counterclockwise rotation of the valve member 71, in which the operating handle 75 contacts the edge 7870f the slot 76 as shown, the openings 79 are completely closed by the impervious portions 3i? of the valve body 72 between'its openings 77, and upon maximum clockwise rotation, in which the operating handle 75 contacts the edge 79, the openings 77 register with corresponding openings 70 of the housing 55. With this arrangement the openings 74) may be closed or completely opened, or partially opened by moving the operating handle 75 to intermediate positions of the slot.

As mentioned above, one of the'objects of the present invention is to provide a novel device for pumping pow dered material employed in combination with the structure described above for positively introducing powdered material into the fluid blast responsively to rotation of the impeller blades 2?. This is accomplished by means of a powdered material pump ht) located in the region of the small diameter end 53 of the hopper 11 and operatively driven from the end 25 of the shaft 24 projecting to within the hollow diffuser 36. As shown, the housing 55 and the valve member 71 are provided with centrally disposed openings 91 and 92, respectively, for receiving an elongated rod 93 mounted for reciprocating movement along the central vertical axis of the conical member 50. The elongated rod 93 includes a first portion 94 located within the hopper l1 and extending substantially throughout the height of the hopper with its upper end 95 passing through an opening 96 at the mid-point of a transverse member 97 secured by bolts 9% and 99 to diametrically opposed points of the surface 52; the opening 96 being in concentric relation with the central vertical axis of the conical member 50 and the member 97 functioning as a guide support for the elongated rod at its upper end. The elongated rod includes a second portion 10%} extending downwardly from the small diameter end 53 of the conical member 50 centrally through the discharge cham ber 60 and the discharge conduit 62, symmetrically across the distributing sections 63 and 64 at their adjacent ends,

and through the annular space 43 to within the hollow diflusor'36, suitable openings being provided in the walls of the distributing sections and the diffusor 36 for the passage of the elongated rod therethrough. The portion 100 extends a substantial transverse distance interiorly of the diffusor 36 with the lower end 101 of the elongated rod terminated in spaced relation with the end 25 of the shaft 24. A cylindrical shaft extension 102 of relatively small diameter projects axially from the shaft end 25 in eccentric relation with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 24. The shaft extension 102 snugly receives the inside race 103 of bearing assembly 104 including an outside race or cylindrical sleeve 105, the bearing assembly being seated against an annular shoulder presented by the shaft end 25. The conical member 50 is positioned longitudinally of the cylindrical casing 12 so that the longitudinal axis of the elongated rod 93 and a medial transverse plane of the bearing assembly 104 lie in a common transverse plane, and is positioned. transversely of the cylindrical casing with the longitudinal axis of the elongated rod lying in a vertical plane passing through the central longitudinal axis of the casing. With this arrangement the upper peripheral surface of the outer race 105 lies in the path of downward movement of the elongated rod 93. Means are provided for urging the elongated rod 93 downwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the shaft 24 with its end 101 in continuous contact with the outer race 105 to impart reciprocating movement to the elongated rod upon rotation of the shaft 24, the elongated rod reciprocating through a complete cycle upon each revolution of the shaft with the stroke being determined by the degree of eccentricity of the shaft extension 102. The foregoing means includes a helical spring 106 positioned over the elongated rod 93 between the inside surface of the supporting member 97 and a pin- 107 rigidly carried by the rod 93 in spaced relation with respect to its end 95. The helical spring 106 is under compression and continually applies a downward force to the elongated rod to maintain its end 101 in contact with the outer race 105.

The powdered material pump 90 further includes a piston 110 carried by the elongated rod 93 within the small diameter end 53 of the conical member 50 for reciprocating movement relative to the hopper 11. The piston 110 comprises a circular disc provided with a centrally dis-' posed hub 111 having a threaded opening 112. The piston 110 is secured to the elongated rod 93 by means of an elongated sleeve 113 positioned over the elongated rod in the region of the small diameter end 53 of the conical member and connected to the elongated rod in any suitable manner. The sleeve 113 is provided with external threads 114 for engagement with the threaded opening 112 of the piston. The piston 110 may be located at any position along the length of the threaded sleeve 113 and locked in that position by means of a threaded nut 115. As shown more clearly in Fig. 3, the diameter of the disc piston 110 corresponds to the internal diameter of the conical member 50 in a transverse plane spaced inwardly from the annular end plate 56. The piston 1-10 is relatively positioned on the elongated rod 93 so that the peripheral edge 116 of the piston lies in contiguous contact with an inside peripheral surface 117 of the conical member 50 upon the elongated rod 93 being reciprocated to its lowermost position with respect to the conicalmember 50, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 3. With this arrangement, upon rotation of the shaft 24 to move the elongated rod upwardly to its maximum position, the piston 110 moves therewith and occupies the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, in which the peripheral edge 116 of the piston is spaced from the adjacent inside peripheral surface 118 of the conical member 50'. The annular opening 119 between the peripheral edge 116 of the piston and the adjacent peripheral surface 118 of the conical member allows powdered material in the hopper above the piston to pass downwardly around the peripheral edge of the piston to the region 120 of the member 50 below the piston. Thereupon, upon further rotation of the shaft 24the piston moves downwardly to its lowermost position and positively forces the powdered material from the region 120 through the control valve 54 and into the discharge chamber 60. The power for the pumping or pressure stroke of the piston 110 is derived from the helical spring 106 which is of suflicient size to store the energy required for the pressure stroke upon its compression during upward movement of the elongated rod 93. Thus the circular disc 110, together with the tapered walls of the conical member 50 in the region of its small diameter end 53, combine to form the cylinder, piston and valve means of a pump adapted for handling powdered material.

In operation, the hopper 11 is filled with powdered material of the type desired to be distributed, such as a dust insecticide, and the motor drivably connected to the shaft 32 is operated at the proper speed to rotate the impeller blades 29 and produce a fluid blast, such as air, of the desired magnitude; the fluid blast passing throughthe annular passageway 15, the annular passageway 43 of increasing cross-sectional area and into the distributingconduit 42. As the fluid flows through the passageway 43 its velocity gradually decreases with a concomitant pressure increase, and the pressure of the fluid blast in the distributing conduit 43 downstream of the diflusor 36 is greater than the pressure of the fluid in the region of the discharge openings 65 and 66 of the distributing sections 63 and 64-. As the shaft 24 rotates, the eccentrically positioned shaft extension 102 rotates therewith and the elongated rod 93 being urged downwardly into contact with the surface of the outer race by the spring 106, reciprocates upwardly and downwardly completing a cycle upon each revolution of the shaft 24. The piston 110, being rigidly carried by the elongated shaft 93, moves upwardly and downwardly between fixed limits as shown in Fig. 3. When the piston is in its uppermost posi-' tion, powdered material flows, by gravity, through the annular opening 119 adjacent the peripheral edge 116 ofthe piston and downwardly to the compression chamber beneath the piston. Upon downward movement of the piston, the powdered material in the chamber 120 is positively forced through the control valve 54 when in open position. Upon passing through the control valve, the powdered material enters the discharge chamber 60,

and from the discharge chamber the powdered material is forced through the discharge conduit 62 and into the distributing sections 63 and 64 from which the powdered material is discharged, from their open ends 65 and 66; into the annular passageway 43 on opposite sides of the diflusor 36. Since the open ends of the distributing sections 63 and 64 are located in the'annular passageway 43,

in which the fluid blast is of relatively low pressure, the

fluid blast offers low resistance to the flow of powdered material from the openings 65 and 66; Due to the annular position of the plane of the openings 65 and 66, on the downstream side of the walls of the distributing-sections, the fluid blast flowing past the distributing sections ro:

duces a suction action which aids in the discharge of powdered material through the openings 65 and 66; The positioning of the distributing sections 61 and 62 withthe discharge distributing sections 63' and 64 on opposite sides of the drum 13 results in uniform mixing of the powdered material throughout the fluid blast; The quantity of powdered material introduced into the fluid blast is deter mined by the control valve 53 in accordance with the proportional to the speed of rotation of the impeller blades 29 and hence the rate of flow of the fluid blast. This results in an arrangement for accurately controlling the proportion of powdered material for a given volume of material throughout a wide range of concentrations.

' There is thus provided by the present invention a novel apparatus'for distributing pulverized or finely dividid material and for uniformly dispensing the material by means of a fluid blast over a relatively large area about the apparatus. The apparatus has'particular utility in dusting crops, for example, with powdered insecticide. The present invention provides a blower arrangement for producing a fluid blast in combination with a novel designed for handling powdered material, in which the pumping action is proportional to the fluid blast throughout the operating range of the blower to thus allow uniform mixing of powdered material throughout a given volume of fluid blast. present invention also includes means for uniformly mixing the powdered material with the fluid blast to provide uniform distribution of the powdered material throughout the area of application. 'Also the novel arrangement for driving the pump from the blower provides a compact apparatus capable of long periods of uninterrupted service 'which maybe manufactured at relatively low cost.

Although only one embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed and described above it is to be expressly understood that various changes and substitutions may be made therein without departure from the invention as Well understood by those skilled in the art. Reference therefore will be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a blower having a housing providing an annular discharge passageway for delivering a fluid blast through the discharge passageway, a storage bin adapted for containing powdered material located above the housing of theblower, the storage bin having a discharge opening, conduit means connected to the discharge opening of the bin and extending downwardly from the bin to within the discharge passageway of the blower, distributing conduit means located in the discharge passageway, the distributing conduit means including a plurality of conduits each having an end fed from the conduit means and an open end terminated within the discharge passageway, the conduits being relatively positioned with their open ends in spaced relation and substantially symmetrically disposed in the discharge passageway, and a positive displacement powdered material pump located for positively forcing powdered material from the bin into the conduit means and from the conduit means into distributing conduit means and into the fluid blast passing through a the discharge passageway.

2. In combination, a blower having a housing providing an annular discharge passageway for delivering a fluid blast through the discharge passageway, a storage bin for containing powdered material located above the housing of the blower, the storage bin having a discharge opening, conduit means connected to the discharge opening of the bin and extending downwardly from the bin to Within the discharge passageway of the blower, distributing conduit means located in the discharge passageway and connected to the conduit means, the distributing conduit means including a plurality of conduits each having an end fed from the conduit means and an open end terminated within the annular discharge passageway, the conduits being relatively disposed with their open ends in spaced relation and substantially symmetrically positioned in the annular discharge passageway, a positive displacement powdered material pump located within the bin for positively forcing powdered material from the bin into the conduit means and from the conduit means into the distributing conduit means and into the 'fluid blast passing through the discharge passageway of the blower, and a mechanism for driving thelpositive displacement powdered material pump from the blower.

3. In combination, a blower having a housing providing an annular discharge passageway for delivering a fluid The arrangement provided by the V blast through the discharge passageway, a storage bin for containing powdered material located above the housing of theblower, the storage bin having a discharge opening, conduitmeans connected to the discharge opening of the bin and extending downwardly fromthe bin to withinthe I dischargepassageway of the blower, distributing conduit means located in the discharge passageway and connected: to the conduit means, the distributing conduit means including a plurality of conduits each having an end connected to the conduit means and an open end terminated within the annular discharge passageway, the conduits be-.

through the discharge passageway of the blower.

4. In combination, a blower having a housing providing an annular discharge passageway for delivering a fluid blast through the discharge passageway, a storage bin for containing powdered material located above the housing of the blower, the storage bin having a discharge opening, conduit means connected to the discharge opening of the bin and extending downwardly from the bin to within the discharge passageway of the blower, distributing conduit means located in the discharge passageway and connected to the conduit means, the distributing conduit means including a plurality of conduits each having an end connected to the conduit means and an open end terminated within the annular discharge passageway, the conduits being relatively disposed with their open ends in spaced relation and substantially symmetrically positioned in the annular discharge passageway, the open ends of the conduits lying in inclined planes disposed downstream of the fluid blast, a positive displacement powdered material pump located within the bin for positively forcing powdered material from the bin into the conduit means and from the conduit means into the distributing conduit means and into the fluid blast passing through the discharge passageway of the blower, and a mechanism for driving the positive displacement powdered material pump from the blower.

5. In combination, a blower having a discharge housing provided with a discharge opening for delivering a fluid blast into the housing and through the discharge opening, a storage bin for containing powdered material.

located above the discharge housing of the blower, the

storage bin having a discharge opening and including side walls inclined downwardly and inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the discharge opening, conduit means connected to the discharge opening of the bin and extending downwardly from the bin to within the housing and opening into the fluid blast, and a positive displacement powdered material pump located within the bin for positively forcing powdered material from the bin into the conduit means and from the conduit means into the fluid blast passing through the discharge housing of the blower, the positive displacement powdered material pump including a piston located in'the bin and mounted for reciprocating movement'in the bin between one position adjacent the discharge opening of the bin and another position spaced from the discharge opening of the bin,

the piston having a peripheral shape corresponding to V the interior shape of the bin adjacent the discharge opening, and meansior reciprocating the piston. 6. In combination, a blower having a discharge housing provided with a discharge opening for delivering a fluid blast into the housing and through the discharge opening, an inverted conically shaped storage bin mounted above the blower and adapted to contain powdered material, means for forming a discharge opening at the small diameter end of the inverted conically shaped storage bin, conduit means connected to the discharge opening of the bin and extending downwardly from the bin to within the housing and opening into the fluid blast, and a positive displacement powdered material pump means for positively forcing powdered material from the bin into the conduit means and from the conduit means into the fluid blast passing through the discharge housing of the blower, the positive displacement pump means including a circular plate positioned within the bin and mounted for reciprocating movement along the vertical longitudinal axis of the bin between one position adjacent the discharge opening of the bin and another position spaced above the discharge opening of the bin, the circular plate having a diameter corresponding to the internal diameter of the bin adjacent its discharge opening, and means for reciprocating the plate.

7. In combination, an elongated hollow shell, a rotatable shaft mounted within the shell, fan means carried by the shaft and positioned within the shell for producing a fluid blast through the shell upon rotation of the shaft, one end of the shaft being located within the shell downstream of the fan means, an inverted conically shaped storage bin adapted to contain powdered material mounted above the shell in the region of the one end of the shaft, means for forming a discharge opening at the small diameter end of the inverted conically shaped storage bin, conduit means connected to the discharge opening of the bin and extending downwardly from the bin to Within the shell and opening into the interior of the shell downstream of the fan means, a circular plate positioned within the bin and mounted for reciprocating movement along the vertical longitudinal axis of the bin between one position adjacent the discharge opening of the bin and another position spaced above the discharge opening of the bin, the circular plate having a diameter corresponding to the internal diameter of the bin adjacent its discharge opening, and means operatively connected to the one end of the shaft and to the plate for recipro cating the plate between the one and the other positions upon rotation of the shaft.

8. In combination, an elongated hollow shell, a rotatable shaft mounted within the shell, fan means carried by the shaft and positioned within the shell for producing a fluid blast through the shell upon rotation of the shaft, one end of the shaft being located within the shell downstream of the fan means, an inverted conically shaped storage bin adapted to contain powdered material mounted above the shell in the region of the one end of the shaft, means for forming a discharge opening at the small diameter end of the inverted conically shaped storage bin, conduit means connected to the discharge opening of the bin and extending downwardly from the bin to within the shell and opening into the interior of the shell downstream of the fan means, a circular plate positioned within the-bin and mounted for reciprocating movement along the vertical longitudinal axis of the bin between one position adjacent the discharge opening of the bin and another position spaced above the discharge opening of the bin, the circular plate having a diameter corresponding to the internal diameter of the bin adjacent its discharge opening, an elongated rod extending through the discharge opening of the bin and the conduit means to within the shell connected to the plate with one of its ends' located adjacent the one end of the shaft, and means carried by the one end of the shaft and operatively associated with the one end of the elongated rod for reciprocating the rod and moving the plate between its one and its another position upon rotation of the shaft.

9. In combination, an elongated hollow shell, a rotatable shaft mounted within the shell, fan means carried by the shaft and positioned within the shell for producing a fluid blast through the shell upon rotation of the shaft,

10 one end of the shaft being located within the shell down stream 'of the fan means, an inverted conically shaped storage bin adapted to contain powdered material mounted above the shell in the region of the one end of the shaft, means for forming a discharge opening at the small diameter end of the inverted conically shaped storage bin, conduit means connected to the discharge opening of the bin and extending downwardly from the bin to within the shell and opening into the interior of the shell downstream of the fan means, an elongated rod positioned within the bin coincident with its vertical longitudinal axis and extending through the discharge opening of the bin and through the conduit means into the interior of the shell and terminating in an end adjacent the one end of the shaft, means for mounting the elongated rod for reciprocating movement relative to the bin, means carried by the one end of the shaft and operatively associated with the terminating end of the elongated rod for reciprocating the elongated rod between predetermined positions upon rotation of the shaft, a circular plate having a diameter corresponding to the interior diameter of the bin adjacent the discharge opening of the bin, and means for mounting the plate on the elongated rod within the bin for upward and downward movement relative to the discharge opening of the bin upon reciprocation of the elongated rod.

10. In combination, an elongated hollow shell, a rotatable shaft mounted within the shell, fans means carried by the shaft and positioned within the shell for producing a fluid blast through the shell upon rotation of the shaft, one end of the shaft being located within the shell downstream of the fan means, an inverted conically shaped storage bin adapted to contain powdered material mounted above the shell in the region of the one end of the shaft, means for forming a discharge opening at the small diameter end of the inverted conically shaped storage bin, conduit means connected to the discharge opening of the bin and extending downwardly from the bin to within the shell and opening into the interior of the shell downstream of the fan means, an elongated rod positioned within the bin coincident with its vertical longitudinal axis and extending through the discharge opening of the bin and through the conduit means into the interior of the shell and terminating in anend adjacent the one end of the shaft, means for mounting the elongated rod for reciprocating movement relative to the bin, a cam having a circular cam surface eccentrically mounted on the one end of the shaft for rotation with the shaft, means for urging the elongated rod in a direction toward the shell to maintain the terminating end of the elongated rod in contact with the circular surface of the cam, a circular plate having a diameter corresponding to the interior diameter of the bin adjacent the discharge opening of the bin, and means for mounting the plate on the elongated rod within the bin for upward and downward movement relative to the discharge opening of the bin upon rotation of the shaft.

11. In combination, a hollow cylindrical casing, a cylindrical drum having an external diameter less than the internal diameter of the casing positioned within the cas: ing in concentric relation with the longitudinal axis of the casing to define an annular space betwen the shell and the drum, a shaft rotatably supported by the drum with its longitudinal axis in concentric relation with the longitudinal axisof the casing, one end of the shaft extending outwardly beyond one end of the drum, fan means carried by the one end of the shaft for producing a fluid blast in the annular space, the other end of the shaft being downstream of the fan means, an inverted conically shaped storage bin adapted to contain powdered material mounted above the casing in the region of the other end of the shaft, means for forming a discharge openingat the small diameter end of the inverted conically shaped storage bin, conduit means connected to the discharge opening of the bin and extending downwardly 11 u s s from the binvto within the casing and opening into the annular space downstream of the fan means, a circular plate positioned within the bin and mounted for reciprocating movement along the vertical longitudinal axis of the bin between'one position adjacent theidischar'ge opening of the bin and another position spaced above the discharge opening of the bin, the circular plate having a diameter corresponding to the internal diameter of the bin adjacent its discharge opening, and means operatively connected to the other end of the shaft and the plate for reciprocating the plate between the one and the another positions upon rotation of the shaft.

12. In combination, a hollow cylindrical casing, a cylindrical drum having an external diameter less than the internal diameter of the casing positioned within the casing in concentric relation with the longitudinal axis of the casing to define an annular space between the shell and the drum, a shaft rotatably supported by the drum with its longitudinal axis in concentric relation with the longitudinal axis of the casing, one end of the shaft extending outwardly beyond one end of the drum, fan means carried by the one end of the shaft for producing a fluid blast in the annular space, the other end of the shaft being downstream of the fan means, an inverted conically shaped storage bin adapted to contain powdered material mounted above the casing in the regionof the other end of the shaft, means for forming a discharge opening at the small diameter end of the inverted conically shaped storage bin, conduit means connected to the discharge opening of the bin and extending down wardly from the bin to within thecasing and opening into the annular space downstream of the fan means, a circular plate positioned within the bin and mounted for reciprocating movement along the vertical longitudinal axis .of the bin between one position adjacent the discharge opening of the bin and another position spaced above the discharge opening of the bin, the circular plate having a diameter corresponding to the internal diameter of the bin adjacent its discharge opening, an elongated rod extending through the discharge opening and the conduit means to within the shell connected to the plate and having an end located adjacent the other end of the shaft, and means carried by the shaft at its other end and operatively associated with'the end of the elongated rod for reciprocating the rod and moving the plate between its 7 tending outwardly beyond one end of the drum, fan means carried by the one end of the shaft for producing a fluid blast in the annular space, the other end of the shaft being downstream of the fan means, an inverted conically shapedstorage bin adapted to contain powdered material mounted above the casing in the region of the other end of the shaft, means for forming a discharge opening at the small diameter end of the inverted conically shaped storage bin, conduit means connected torthe discharge opening of the bin and extending downwardly from the bin to within the casing and opening into the annular space downstream of the fan means, an elongated rod positioned within the bin coincident with its vertical longitudinal axis and extending through the discharge opening of. thebin and through the conduit means into the interior of the shell and terminating in an end adjacent the other end 'of the shaft, means for mounting the elongated rod for reciprocating movement relative to the bin, means carried by the other end .of the shaft and operatively associated with the terminating end Of the elongated rod for reciprocatingrthe elongated rod between predetermined positions upon rotation of the shaft, a

circular plate having a diameter corresponding to the interior diameter of the bin adjacent the discharge open-s ing of the bin, and means for mounting the plate on the portion of the elongated rod within the bin for upward the internal diameter of the casing positioned within thev casing in concentric relation with the longitudinal axis of the casing to define an annular space between the shell and the drum, a shaft rotatably supported by the drum with its longitudinal axis in concentric relation with the longitudinal axis of the casing, one end of the shaft extending outwardly beyond one end of the drum, fan means carried by the one end of the shaft for producing a fluid blast in the annular space, the other end of the shaft being downstream of the fan means, an inverted conically shaped storage bin adapted to contain powdered material mounted above the casing in the region of the other end of the shaft, means for forming a discharge opening at the small diameter end of the inverted conically shaped storage bin, conduit means connected to the discharge opening of the bin and extending down wardly from the bin to within the casing and opening into the annular space downstream of the fan means, an elongated rod positioned within the bin coincident with its vertical longitudinal axis and extending through the discharge opening of the bin and through the conduit means into the interior of the shell and terminating in an end adjacent the other end of the shaft, means for mounting the elongated rod for reciprocating movement relative to the bin, a cam having a circular cam surface eccentrically mounted on the other end of the shaft for rotation with the shaft, means for urging the elongated rod in a direction toward the shell to maintain the terminating end of the elongated rod in contact with the circular surface of the cam so that the elongated rod is reciprocated between predetermined positions upon rotation of the shaft, a circular plate having a diameter corre- I sponding to the interior diameter of the bin adjacent the discharge opening of the bin, and means for mounting the plate on the portion of the elongated rod within the bin for upward and downward movement relative to the discharge opening of the bin upon reciprocation of the elongated rod.

15. In combination, a hollow cylindrical casing, a cylindrical drum having an external diameter less than.

the internal diameter of the casing positioned within the casing in concentric relation with the longitudinal axis of the casing to define an annular space between the shell and the drum, a shaft rotatably supported by the drum with its longitudinal axis in concentric relation with the longitudinal axis of the casing, one end of the shaft extending outwardly beyond one end of the drum, fan means carried by the one end of the shaft for producing a fluid blast in the annular space, the other end of the shaft being downstream of the fan means, an inverted conically shaped storage bin adapted to contain powdered material mounted above the casing in the region of the other end of the shaft, means for forming a discharge opening at the small diameter end of the inverted conically shaped storage bin, conduit means connected to the discharge opening of the bin and extending downwardly from the bin to within the casing and opening into the annular space downstream of the fan means, an elongated rod positioned within the bin coincident with its vertical longitudinal axis and extending through the discharge opening of the bin and through the conduit means into the interior of the shell and terminating in an end adjacent the other end of the shaft, means for mounting the elongated rod for reciprocating movement relative to the bin, a stud extending axially from the other end of the shaft in eccentric relation with the longitudinal axis of the shaft, a cylindrical sleeve, bearing means rotatably mounting the cylindrical sleeve on the stud, means for urging the elongated rod in a direction toward the casing to maintain the terminating end of the rod in contact with the sleeve so that the elongated rod reciprocates between predetermined positions upon rotation of the shaft, a circular plate having a diameter corresponding to the interior diameter of the bin adjacent the discharge opening of the bin, and means for mounting the plate on the portion of the elongated rod within the bin for upward and downward movement relative to the discharge opening of the bin upon reciprocation of the elongated rod.

16. In combination, a hollow cylindrical casing, a cylindrical drum having an external diameter less than the internal diameter of the casing positioned within the casing in concentric relation with the longitudinal axis of the casing to define an annular space between the shell and the drum, a shaft rotatably supported by the drum with its longitudinal axis in concentric relation with the longitudinal axis of the casing, one end of the shaft extending outwardly beyond one end of the drum, fan means carried by the one end of the shaft for producing a fluid blast in the annular space, the other end of the shaft being downstream of the fan means, an inverted conically shaped storage bin adapted to contain powdered material mounted above the casing in the region of the other end of the shaft, means for forming a discharge opening at the small diameter end of the inverted conically shaped storage bin, conduit means connected to the discharge opening of the bin and extending downwardly from the bin to within the shell, distributing conduits located within the annular space fed from the con duit means, the distributing conduits extending from the conduit means and terminating in open ends on opposite sides of the drum, an elongated rod positioned within the bin coincident with its vertical longitudinal axis and extending through the discharge opening of the bin and through the conduit means into the interior of the shell and terminating in an end adjacent the other end of the shaft, means for mounting the elongated rod for reciprocating movement relative to the bin, a cam having a circular cam surface eccentrically mounted on the other end of the shaft for rotation with the shaft, means for urging the elongated rod in a direction toward the shell to maintain the terminating end of the elongated rod in contact with the circular surface of the cam so that the elongated rod reciprocates between predetermined positions upon rotation of the shaft, a circular plate having a diameter corresponding to the interior diameter of the bin adjacent the discharge opening of the bin, and means for mounting the plate on the portion of the elongated rod within the bin for upward and downward movement relative to the discharge opening of the bin upon reciprocation of the elongated rod.

17. In combination, a hollow cylindrical casing, a cylindrical drum having an external diameter less than the internal diameter of the casing positioned within the casing in concentric relation with the longitudinal axis of the casing to define an annular space between the shell and the drum, a shaft rotatably supported by the drum with its longitudinal axis in concentric relation with the longitudinal axis of the casing, one end of the shaft extending outwardly beyond one end of the drum, fan means carried by the one end of the shaft for producing a fluid blast in the annular space, the other end of the shaft being downstream of the fan means, an inverted conically shaped storage bin adapted to contain powdered material mounted above the casing in the region of the other end of the shaft, means forming a discharge opening at the small diameter end of the bin, conduit means connected to the discharge opening of the bin and extending downwardly from the bin to within the shell, distributing conduits joined to the conduit means within the shell, the distributing conduits extending from the conduit means and terminating in open ends in the annular space on opposite sides of the drum, the open ends of the distributing conduits lying in inclined planes located downstream of the fluid blast, an elongated rod positioned within the bin coincident with its vertical longitudinal axis and extending through the discharge opening of the bin and through the conduit means into the interior of the shell and terminating in an end adjacent the other end of the shaft, means for mounting the elongated rod for reciprocating movement relative to the bin, a stud extending axially from the other end of the shaft in eccentric relation with the longitudinal axis of the shaft, a cylindrical sleeve, bearing means rotatably mounting the cylindrical sleeve on the stud, means for urging the elongated rod in a direction toward the casing to maintain the terminating end of the rod in contact with the sleeve so that the elongated rod reciprocates between predetermined positions upon rotation of the shaft, a circular plate having a diameter corresponding to the interior diameter of the bin adjacent the discharge opening of the bin, and means for mounting the circular plate on the portion of the rod within the bin adjacent the discharge opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,674,048 Lang June 19, 1928 1,872,028 Collins Aug. 16, 1932 2,512,175 Sawyer June 20, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 12,964 Great Britain 1885 

